FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts - The Montreal Impact officially qualified for the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday night, with a solid defensive effort in its 1-0 road victory over the New England Revolution.
"I have to say mission accomplished tonight, but we have one more game to move up the standings, so we have to keep our focus for the next game," said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. "We went on the road with a number of difficult games, including here in New England who lost just once at home this season. I’m proud of the group.”
"Our objective as the season closes was to get some wins on the road and we've done that with two in a row," said striker Didier Drogba. "This was a great team game and everyone contributed defensively tonight."
Ignacio Piatti scored his ninth of the season in the 55th minute after creating his own scoring opportunity. Stealing the ball in midfield, the Argentine dribbled past a couple of defenders and curled it into the top corner, far side from outside the box.
Although the Revs started the game with much of the possession, IMFC held its ground and to keep the home side at bay in the first half, and built on their defensive play to slowly regain some of the ball.
Off of a short corner, Venegas found a loose ball and got off an off balance shot off towards goal, but missed from short side in the 9th minute.
The Revs’ Lee Nguyen had a golden opportunity in the 22nd minute when he was played in near the top of the box by Juan Agudelo, but he didn’t get everything on his shot and Bush scooped it up.
After Piatti scored in the second half, the Impact shut the door the rest of the way, closing down all scoring lanes and winning the 50-50 balls in midfield to earn the shutout and a spot in the playoffs.
"We came here to win the game and we did," said Wandrille Lefèvre. "We have developed a lot of chemistry down the stretch and will go into the Toronto game next week with the objective of winning that game too."
IMFC will conclude its regular season at Stade Saputo on Sunday, October 25, at 5pm EDT (RDS, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN 690 Radio), against rivals Toronto FC, on Decision Day 2015.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Donny Toia, Victor Cabrera, Wandrille Lefevre, Ambroise Oyongo, M- Marco Donadel, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ignacio Piatti (Patrice Bernier 82’), Johan Venegas (Calum Mallace 71’), Dilly Duka (Dominic Oduro 56’); F-Didier Drogba
Subs not used: Kronberg, Camara, Miller, Jackson-Hamel
NE – GK - Bobby Shuttleworth; London Woodberry, Andrew Farrell, Jose Goncalves, Chris Tierney; M - Jermaine Jones, Scott Caldwell (Daigo Kobayashi 79’), Kelyn Rowe (Charlie Davies 65’), Lee Nguyen, Diego Fagundez; F - Juan Agudelo
Subs not used: Knighton, Neumann, Dorman, Alston, Hall
GOAL
MTL – Piatti 55’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Venegas 5’
MTL - Donadel 52’
